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| piyaz |
For an authentic accompaniment to kuru köfte, the recipe for which is here, you should try piyaz.
It’s true you will see köfte everywhere served with chips, and garnished with a slice of red tomato and a green pepper, true harmony on a plate, but they go beautifully with this bean salad which will always be on offer in köftecis, traditional köfte places.
Now, Turkish salads may be miracles of freshness and seasonality, but very often the dressing, if any, is a let down. The classic is olive oil and lemon juice with salt and pepper usually added at the table. But I nearly always find that there is something lacking in the combination and it’s disappointing.
Here is where piyaz differs: the most important ingredient after the beans of course, is VINEGAR! The beans soak in it for a couple of hours and this combined with the other ingredients gives it a really zingy taste. It couldn’t be easier once all the right ones have been assembled and prepared, including boiling a couple of eggs: the end result is a delicious colourful salad ready to serve alongside any grilled meat but especially Turkish köftes!
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| delicious freshly-made piyaz |
I have made piyaz using both the dried beans and a tin of pre-cooked white beans. Which one was a)easier b)better? Yes, go for the tin every time and save yourself a whole lot of time and bother. Buy several in fact, get the large size, and keep them in the store cupboard for a rainy day. Ideal for when you are called upon to ‘bring a dish’!
Piyaz: Bean Salad
Serves 6
1 large tin pre-cooked white beans, drained
½ cup vinegar
1 onion, sliced very finely
1 large tomato, chopped or sliced, or 4-5 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced (I used a çarliston biberi, a long sweet one)
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| the chopped green pepper and sliced onion |
12 black olives
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Method
· Place the drained beans in a bowl and pour the vinegar over them. Leave for 2 -3 hours depending on time. Drain.
· Take the slices of onion and sprinkle with salt. Knead the onion and salt with your hands so that the bitter juices are released. Place in a sieve and rinse under cold running water. With your hand, squeeze out the remaining water. NB this is a time-honoured Turkish way of treating onions and I recommend it.
· Add the onion, parsley, pepper to the drained beans and season with salt. Pour the olive oil on top. Arrange the bean mixture on a salad plate and garnish with the tomatoes, the sliced pepper, olives and eggs.
It’s as easy as that!
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| piyaz |
Afiyet olsun!
You have me wishing for some kofte and piyaz for dinner, rather than the heavy German food I will be eating at a local restaurant.
That's a nice comment, Val! It does make a nice combination, I must say!
i just bought beans a few days ago and i am glad i waited because the recipe i was going to use did not call for soaking the beans in vinegar. what a difference this will make! can't wait to try it!
You are great! Tell me what you think, OK?
Your bean salad looks simple and very tasty for a summer meal outside on the terrace. I am curious how many grams are in one of your "large tin" of beans.
Michel, I'll get back to you through your blog, OK?
245g, drained content of one large tin!
I think tinned beans work out more economical too as the dried ones take so much gas to cook and fill the kitchen with condensation. Great recipe – that tomorrow's menu sorted.
Claudia — I don't care for bean salad in the States, but I LOVE Turkish piyaz. Thanks for providing the recipe!
Thanks, Backtobodrum and Sue! Your comments much appreciated!
i am making this right now and will post it tomorrow! i love the squeezed onion step. that is how i prepare the onions for my Greek tuna salad!
I am on my way to make this. If the family doesn't appreciate it, too bad. I certainly will, because it will go with anything – anything grilled tonight, that is. Thank you for letting me try this.
My daughter loves this salad, I could make it daily and she could eat it….I always use beans in a can,they are of good quality and to me taste better in the salad.
……..love you photo and you decorated the dish very well. Have a great day!
Let's hope the family liked it too, Zitrone, and Erica, you are great – thanks for your lovely comments :))
What a great salad recipe Claudia, I'm always impressed by your ideas and inventiveness. x
Oh that is such a nice comment, Froggie! Thanks!
Hmmm this looks amazing. Must make it ASAP. Which vinegar did you use?
I think it was elma – apple! I don't think it would make too much difference.
Thanks. Gonna make it tonight, together with the kofte.
Hi Claudia! I made this the other night and it was too vinegary. Maybe I didn't drain it enough? Do you drain and then rinse the beans? So I simply added another 1/2 can of beans and more of everything else and it was delicious!! I'll make it again, but was wondering about the vinegar.
Hi Spicer Route! Funnily enough I made it last night too – it IS vinegary, there's no denying it. But you could easily give the beans a rinse if you think the taste is too strong, why not, or do what you did and add some more! I kept to the original as we like it like that :). Thanks for the comment!